What is an architect? What do they or should they do? What’s the difference between a solution architect and an applications architect? Do we even need architects anymore?

In this episode of the Steering Engineering Podcast, host, Danny Brian, and co-host, Brent Stewart, are joined by Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst, Anne Thomas, to explore these questions and determine how the role of architect should be defined in software engineering.

Anne Thomas is a VP and distinguished analyst in the Software Engineering Strategies team in the Gartner for IT Leaders research group. Ms. Thomas covers application architecture and infrastructure. Her current major topics include application architecture, application platforms, cloud-native, microservices, APIs, modernization and open-source strategies.

Join hosts Brent Stewart and Danny Brian on the Steering Engineering Podcast as they dive into the transformative role of AI in software development. Featuring Kyle Davis, an expert in low-code platforms and generative AI, this episode explores AI coding assistants, the rise of low-code, and the potential of AI agents to reshape who builds software and how. Discover how AI is democratizing development, shifting traditional boundaries, and raising critical questions about the evolving role of software engineers in a rapidly changing landscape.

Kyle Davis is a VP Analyst at Gartner specializing in modernizing application development with expertise in low-code application platforms, generative AI, citizen development, and DevOps. He advises organizations and software vendors on evaluating, deploying, and governing low-code solutions built by professional, citizen, and fusion teams. With more than 15 years of experience delivering complex solutions across healthcare, financial services, and other industries, Kyle is a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to innovate and scale their application development strategies.

DevOps platforms provide an integrated alternative to custom toolchains, offering organizations an optimized and cohesive set of capabilities. Gartner’s latest Magic Quadrant on DevOps Platform offers insights on the past, present and potential future of these platforms.

Keith Mann is a senior director in Gartner, covering software engineering strategy and practices. Keith came to Gartner after a long background in development and enterprise architecture, and is one of the authors of the Magic Quadrant for DevOps Platforms.